Third Division on cards for Rangers

Ally McCoist has said that dropping down the fourth tier might be in the best interest of Rangers

Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir has told Rangers they will have to go through the same process as any other club if they wish to join the Third Division.

The administration-hit Scottish Premier League outfit are battling to avoid liquidation and following heavy sanctions imposed on the Ibrox club by the Scottish Football Association this week, manager Ally McCoist admitted he could now be in favour of dropping down to the fourth tier of Scottish football.

"If Rangers or anyone else applied for entry into the SFL they would have to go through the same process as Annan, Spartans FC, Preston Athletic and Cove Rangers did four years ago," Longmuir told the Daily Record.

"They would have to put a proposal to us on why they should be allowed in and then hope they were voted in by the SFL clubs.

"At the moment it's difficult for me to comment on Rangers' situation.

"But anything that brought excitement and freshness to the SFL would be something I'm interested in."

He added: "It would be the same process, given any set of circumstances.

"When Annan were welcomed in the process took a couple of months during the close season.

"In the past we've had to assess the likes of Annan, Cove and Preston on the basis of ground criteria, facilities and financial stability.

"So checks have to be done, which would obviously be a bit different if Rangers were involved.

"However, at the moment there is no vacancy in the SFL. Rangers are in administration, which is a situation other clubs have found themselves in and survived.

"The same could happen to Rangers. As a Scottish football supporter, I hope they do."

Rangers are appealing a £160,000 fine and 12-month embargo on signing players aged over 17 after being found guilty of five charges in relation to their finances and the appointment of Craig Whyte as chairman.